COMPARISONS OF SCINTIGRAPHY WITH IN-111 LEUKOCYTES AND GA-67 IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF OCCULT SEPSIS

Abstract

In a prospective study involving 32 patients with clinical suspicion of focal infection, the sensitivity and specificity of 111In-labeled leukocyte (In-WBCG) scintigraphy were compared with those of 67Ga scintigraphy performed 24-48 h later. Of a total of 192 body sites studied, 26 foci of infection were diagnosed by aspiration, cultures or chest radiographs. In-WBC indicated 19 (73%) true-positive (TP) and 4 (2.5%) false-positive (FP) foci of abnormal accretion; 67Ga had 21 (81%) TP and 15 (9%) FP. The 7/26 (27%) false-negative (FN) In-WBC scintigrams involved infection foci of > 2 wk duration; the 5/26 (19%) FN 67Ga studies were in patients with infections manifested for < 1 wk. The indications of the 2 tracers were considered.